Some wives were looking at their spouses and wondering how hard to cook they might be . . . It was one thing to laugh about as he went to get water for his.

"If you wait a little you can talk to his deputy " the lieutenant replied cursing the sudden weakness he felt in his knees. If he were only allowed to take action he would show this arrogant fellow how to behave. But orders were orders. "I must ask you to wait for him". diflucan online His one talent set him equal with most men. Few sailors whom God had carefully and completely made could handle a sailboat as well. Five points nearer the wind than the best of them he could sail his sloop. When the elements raged and set other men to cowering the deficiencies of Felipe seemed of little importance. He was a perfect sailor if an imperfect man. He owned no boat but worked among the crews of the schooners and sloops that skimmed the coast trading and freighting fruit out to the steamers where there was no harbor. It was through his famous skill and boldness on the sea as well as for the pity felt for his mental imperfections that he was recommended by the collector as a suitable custodian of the captured sloop. When the outcome of Don Sabas' little pleasantry arrived in the form of the imposing and preposterous commission the collector smiled. He had not expected such prompt and overwhelming response to his recommendation. He despatched a ~muchacho~ at once to fetch the future admiral. The collector waited in his official quarters. His office was in the Calle Grande and the sea breezes hummed through its windows all day. The collector in white linen and canvas shoes philandered with papers on an antique desk. A parrot perched on a pen rack seasoned the official tedium with a fire of choice Castilian imprecations. Two rooms opened into the Collector's. In one the clerical force of young men of variegated complexions transacted with glitter and parade their several duties. Through the open door of the other room could be seen a bronze babe guiltless of clothing that rollicked upon the floor. In a grass hammock a thin woman tinted a pale lemon played a guitar and swung contentedly in the breeze. Thus surrounded by the routine of his high duties and the visible tokens of agreeable domesticity the collector's heart was further made happy by the power placed in his hands to brighten the fortunes of the "innocent" Felipe. Felipe came and stood before the collector. He was a lad of twenty not ill-favored in looks but with an expression of distant and pondering vacuity. He wore white cotton trousers down the seams of which he had sewed red stripes with some vague aim at military decoration. A flimsy blue shirt fell open at his throat; his feet were bare; he held in his hand the cheapest of straw hats from the States. "Senor Carrera " said the collector gravely producing the showy commission "I have sent for you at the president's bidding. This document that I present to you confers upon you the title of Admiral of this great republic and gives you absolute command of the naval forces and fleet of our country. You may think friend Felipe that we have no navy--but yes! The.